Production and turnover of organic matter in three southern European Fagus sylvatica L

Abstract

Above-ground biomass, litterfall and litter accumulation and decomposition at the soil surface were studied within three Mediterranean beech forests from Italy, France and Spain in order to better understand the recycling of elements associated with the turnover organic matter Above-ground tree biomass amounted to 131.9 Mg ha^-1 at Etna (Italy), 134.2 Mg ha^-1 at Sierra de la Demanda (Spain) and 223.9 Mg ha^-1 at Mont Lozère (France). The highest amount of total litterfall was observed at Sierra de la Demanda (4.7 Mg ha^-1 year^-1), followed by the Mont Lozère (4.4 Mg ha^-1 year^-1) and Etna (3.9 Mg ha^-1 year^-1). Total organic matter accumulated on the soil surface in the three beech forests amounted to 25.8 Mg ha^-1 at Mont Lozère, 14.4 Mg ha^-1 at Sierra de la Demanda and 12.6 Mg ha^-1 at Etna. The relative proportions of leaf litter versus total litter were nearly the same in the Etna and Sierra de la Demanda forests (72 - 70%), and close to these values for Mont Lozère (65%). All the studied Mediterranean Fagus sylvatica stands appeared very similar concerning the organic matter distribution and fluxes, even if local climate and soil differences can be noticed.